List finder

ABSTRACT

A simple, economical list finder adapted for attachment to the underside or surface of the usual telephone. The list finder comprises an envelope which is trapezoidal in shape and a trapezoidal slide in the envelope on which indicia may be written. The parts are so dimensioned that the slide is held captive, that is, cannot be pulled completely out of the envelope, but can be pulled out far enough to read indicia placed on the major portion of its surface.

United States Patent r191 Fineberg Sept. 24, 1974 LIST FINDER 3,518,783 7/1970 Foley 40/336 Inventor: Sumner M- Fineberg, 365-7 3,553,875 l/l97l Hicks 40/336 g gfg Bummgham Primary ExaminerRobert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras [22] Filed: Jan. 2, 1974 Attorney, Agent, or FirmJennings, Carter & 21 Appl. No.: 429,538

'[ 57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 40/336, 40/18 A Simple, economical list finder adapted for attach [51] Int Cl G09f 3/20 [58] Fie'ld 336 337 ment to the underside or surface of the usual tele- 4O/338 281715 phone. The list finder comprises an envelope which is trapezoidal in shape and a trapezoidal slide in the envelope on which indicia may be written. The parts are [.56] References Clted so dimensioned that the slide is held captive, that is, UNITED STATES PATENTS cannot be pulled completely out of the envelope, but 370,186 9/1887 Fountain 40/18 can be pulled out far enough to read indicia placed on i l z l t the major portion of its surface.

ers 2,741,860 4/1956 Van Gieson 40/336 3 m Drawlng Figures LIST FINDER My invention relates to list finders and has for an object the provision of a simple, effective list finder adapted especially for attachment to the undersurface of the usual telephone, whereby indicia such as telephone numbers may be readily available to the telephone user simply by pulling the slide outwardly, where they may be referred to.

My invention contemplates an envelope which in plan is trapezoidal in shape, a slide which in plan is trapezoidal in shape, the parts being so dimensioned that the slide will move inside the envelope to a position with the major portion of its surface exposed to view, but with the wider end of the slide adapted to jam within the narrower end of the envelope, holding the slide captive in this fashion.

My invention is further characterized by the provision on one surface of the envelope of a suitable adhesive by means of which the envelope may be stuck to the undersurface of a telephone with the narrower end thereof adjacent the front of the telephone, so that the slide may be withdrawn to a position for the user to see indicia thereon.

A list finder illustrating features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of my improved list finder certain parts being omitted, partly broken away, and with the slide drawn forwardly or outwardly of the envelope to its maximum position;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view with certain parts broken away and in section and showing the slide in position to be inserted into the wider end of the envelope, the flap of the envelope being in open position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, detailed sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 with the protective cover sheet for the adhesive being shown in place; and,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of my improved list finder with the slide partially withdrawn and with a telephone shown in dotted lines over the list finder.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, my improved list finder comprises an envelope which in plan view is generally trapezoidal in shape. That is to say, the envelope has a wider, inner end 11 and a narrower, outer open end 12. The inner end 11 is adapted to be closed by a flap 13 which may be glued to the body of the envelope by any suitable adhesive. While the envelope may be formed in many ways, I prefer to form it of a single sheet, the sheet being lapped as indicated at 14, to form the envelope.

The slide 16 adapted to be associated with the envelope 10 also is trapezoidal in shape as viewed in plan. The wider end 17 of the slide is wider than the narrower end 12 of the envelope. Further, the slide is longer than the envelope so that the outer end 18 thereof always projects from the envelope, even when the slide is pushed as far into the envelope as possible, so that the portion 18 may be grasped between thumb and forefinger. to pull the slide outwardly.

As will be understood, the slide may be provided with lines or other markings to indicate the spacing and arrangement of indicia thereon such as telephone numbers.

In order to secure the slide to the undersurface of the telephone indicated generally at T in FIG. 4, I may provide one surface 19 of the envelope with adhesive or the like. Some form of contact adhesive will be satisfactory and in order to prevent this type of adhesive from sticking to envelopes and the like in which the device may be mailed to a user, I may cover the adhesive covered surface with a sheet of pull-away paper 21 indicated only in FIG. 3. In other words, the device may be sent to the user with the pull-away, adhesive protecting sheet 21 in place and the user may then peel off the paper 21 and adhere the slide to the undersurface of the telephone. Furthermore, as a matter of convenience, the parts may be shipped disassembled as illustrated in FIG. 2 so that the user may write the required indicia on the slide before inserting it into the envelope.

Another possibility with respect to my invention is that the slide itself may be used in place of the sheet of cover paper 21 to prevent the adhesive 19 from sticking to the carrying envelope in transit.

In view of the foregoing it will be seen that I have devised an improved, economical and entirely satisfactory list finder which may be attached to the undersurface of telephones or the like. With the slide inserted and the flap closed it will be seen that the end 18 may be grasped between the thumb and forefinger and pulled out to the extent required to read the indicia on any given line. However, the slide cannot be' pulled completely out of the small end of the envelope because the end 17 of the slide is wider than the narrower, open end 12 of the envelope, thus holding the slide effectively captive in the envelope.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In a list finder adapted for attachment to a portion of the undersurface of a telephone,

a a slide confining envelope,

b a sheet-like indicia carrying member or slide slidably mounted in the envelope, said parts being more definitely defined as follows:

a I. said envelope as viewed in plan being generally trapezoidal with a flap adapted to close the wider end thereof and the narrower end being open,

a 2. adhesive on one surface of the envelope by means of which it may be adhered to the undersurface of a telephone with the narrower end adjacent the front of the telephone, and

b I. said slide as viewed in plan being trapezoidal and dimensioned for a major portion of its length to project from the narrower open end of the envelope, the wider end of the slide being wider than the narrower open end of the envelope, whereby the slide is held captive in the envelope due to jamming of the slide therein when in position with a major portion of its length extending from the envelope.

2. The list finder of claim 1 in which the slide is longer than the envelope, whereby the outer end of the slide is accessible for pulling the slide outwardly of the envelope.

3. The list finder of claim 1 in which said flap for closing the wider end of the envelope is adapted to be glued to the body of the envelope, whereby the slide may be disassembled from the envelope, permitting the user to write indicia such as telephone numbers on the slide, subsequently inserting it through the wider end of the envelope then closing the envelope with said flap. 

1. In a list finder adapted for attachment to a portion of the undersurface of a telephone, a a slide confining envelope, b a sheet-like indicia carrying member or slide slidably mounted in the envelope, said parts being more definitely defined as follows: a
 1. said envelope as viewed in plan being generally trapezoidal with a flap adapted to close the wider end thereof and the narrower end being open, a
 2. adhesive on one surface of the envelope by means of which it may be adhered to the undersurface of a telephone with the narrower end adjacent the front of the telephone, and b
 1. said slide as viewed in plan being trapezoidal and dimensioned for a major portion of its length to project from the narrower open end of the envelope, the wider end of the slide being wider than the narrower open end of the envelope, whereby the slide is held captive in the envelope due to jamming of the slide therein when in position with a major portion of its length extending from the envelope.
 2. The list finder of claim 1 in which the slide is longer than the envelope, whereby the outer end of the slide is accessible for pulling the slide outwardly of the envelope.
 3. The list finder of claim 1 in which said flap for closing the wider end of the envelope is adapted to be glued to the body of the envelope, whereby the slide may be disassembled from the envelope, permitting the user to write indicia such as telephone numbers on the slide, subsequently inserting it through the wider end of the envelope then closing the envelope with said flap. 